Page 138 of A Moment for Us
“You need to get your shit straight, brother. You’re a damn mess, and I’m the only one who isn’t ready to beat your ass.”
“Why is that?”
Oliver puts the papers down. “Because I’ve been where you are. I loved a girl so much that I was ready to marry her, and I lost her.”
He was so sure that Devney was the one for him. He had it all mapped out, and then she realized she was in love with her best friend. Oliver was fucking wrecked. I was able to convince our dad to get someone else to run the Pennsylvania bed and breakfast and send him to Wyoming. It was the only thing that kept him afloat.
“So, you pity me?”
“No, I just have been at that low spot you’re currently sinking in.”
“She won’t respond to my texts or calls.”
Oliver laughs. “Would you?”
I’d like to think I would. Today was her first day back to work, and I’m worried about her. She has a doctor’s appointment in a few days.
“If I knew she was worried, I would.”
He slaps me in the back of the head. “Of course, she knows you’re worried. She is also pissed. For what you did, you deserve to have her cut your balls off.”
“That’s a bit harsh. I was upset and reacted poorly.”
Oliver widens his eyes and blinks a few times. “I swear to God, you ate lead paint or drank out of a few too many hoses when we were kids. Poorly? Dude, you passed poorly seven days ago. You’re now in the shit.”
“And you’re so damn perfect?”
“Hell no, I’m not. I have commitment issues and a broken heart, but I’ve accepted this. What I won’t do is fall in love, get the girl, get her pregnant, and then leave her at the first sign of issues. I don’t get you, Josh.”
He sees what he wants and doesn’t understand that it’s not that simple. Things never are, and while a part of me wants to yell at him, explain that he’s missing the entire point, it won’t matter. I won’t sway him or get him to see my side.
“No, you don’t, and I pray to God you never do.”
And with that, I walk away and dial her number again.
* * *
“You look like you could use a friend.” Jack’s voice causes me to lift my head.
“Wow, it must be really bad.”
“Why is that?”
“My sister sent you.”
Jack laughs and hands me a beer. “She was a little irrational. I volunteered.”
I sit back in the lawn chair outside of what was Alex’s RV but is now mine. “Lucky you.”
“I think it’s more like lucky you. If Stella were here, she would be bashing you over the head with a bottle.”
He’s not wrong. “I probably deserve it.”
“You definitely do.”
I let out a long sigh. “I keep wondering what exactly is going on. I’ve been staring out at the woods, waiting for a fucking answer.”
“Don’t tell Stella that. She seems to think all that’s out there are weird hybrid bears.”
